 to know what, Rosa?« returned Mrs. Steerforth. »Pray, pray, Rosa,
do not be mysterious.«
    »Mysterious!« she cried. »Oh! really? Do you consider me so?«
    »Do I constantly entreat you,« said Mrs. Steerforth, »to speak plainly, in
your own natural manner?«
    »Oh! then this is not my natural manner?« she rejoined. »Now you must really
bear with me, because I ask for information. We never know ourselves.«
    »It has become a second nature,« said Mrs. Steerforth, without any
displeasure; »but I remember, - and so must you, I think, - when your manner was
different, Rosa; when it was not so guarded, and was more trustful.«
    »I am sure you are right,« she returned; »and so it is that bad habits grow
upon one! Really? Less guarded and more trustful? How can I, imperceptibly, have
changed, I wonder! Well, that's very odd! I must study to regain my former
self.«
    »I wish you would,« said Mrs. Steerforth, with a smile.
    »Oh! I really will, you know!« she answered. »I will learn frankness from -
let me see - from James.«
    »You cannot learn frankness, Rosa,« said Mrs. Steerforth quickly - for there
was always some effect of sarcasm in what Rosa Dartle said, though it was said,
as this was, in the most unconscious manner in the world - »in a better school.«
    »That I am sure of,« she answered, with uncommon fervour. »If I am sure of
anything, of course, you know, I am sure of that.«
    Mrs. Steerforth appeared to me to regret having been a little nettled; for
she presently said, in a kind tone:
    »Well, my dear Rosa, we have not heard what it is that you want to be
satisfied about?«
    »That I want to be satisfied about?« she replied, with provoking coldness.
»Oh! It was only whether people, who are like each other in their moral
constitution - is that the phrase?«
    »It's as good a phrase as another,« said Steerforth.
    »Thank you: - whether people, who are like each other in their moral
constitution, are in greater danger than people not so circumstanced, supposing
any serious cause of variance to arise between them, of
